Implementation
The present study grounded by the Gate control theory which proposed by Melzack and Wall (1965) and Roy’s
adaptation model (1976). The gate control theory suggests that pain impulses can be regulated or even blocked
by gating mechanism. While Roy’s model, defined a person as is a bio-psycho-social, who uses innate and
acquired mechanisms to adapt.
An interview was approached on admission for the demographic information, mother’s obstetric history
and getting the baseline data, it spent approximately fifteen minutes for each participant. During the first stage of
labor at 3 cm cervical dilatation, mothers of the study group received hot water pack with a temperature of 38-
40°C, covered with cotton towel on their lower abdomen, and low back (S1-S5) for 15 minutes on left side-lying
position throughout the contractions (Ganji, etal. 2013). Then, they received crashed ice pack covered with thin
cotton towel in both hands, between thumb and forefinger on LI4 acupressure point for 5 minutes (Fleoy, etal.
2012). This process repeated for 20 minutes every an hour (i.e. in order to allow the tissue to return to normal
body temperature) up till full cervical dilatation. Throughout the rest period between each application, mothers
were asked to take the appropriate position for them. Pain was assessed just before the intervention at the time of
3cm cervical dilatation, immediately after intervention, at 6cm and 8cm cervical dilatation. While anxiety level
assessed before the intervention and at 8 cm cervical dilatation. Mothers’ satisfaction levels were assessed
immediately after delivery. Mothers in the control group received the standard hospital care.